The Minister's Letter - May 2008
The Minister's Letter -
May 2008
Dear Friends,
"All change" is a announcement commonly heard at a railway station. Whether passengers like it or not, when you are sitting in a warm carriage waiting to get home, hearing "all change" means we have to go to another train. It means leaving our comfortable seat getting out of the train. Putting it another way if you are standing "all change" may mean you have the opportunity to sit on a seat on the other train.
I was on a train in Kent. It stopped at Faversham, on the way to London Victoria. We arrived at Faversham and the announcement came "all change". This was one of the last trains that day so I was hoping that I was doing the right thing. I got on the other train. I usually check for my ticket. On this occasion I couldn't find it and started panicking. I thought I must have dropped it on the other train and dashed over to the carriage and there on the seat with some other important things was my ticket. "All change" for me could have been disastrous, when I got to London without a ticket and the cash that had fallen out. My problem was overcome, praise God.
Nationally
The Methodist Church in Britain is going through many changes. In September Revd Dr Martyn Atkins takes over the reins as the General Secretary of the Methodist Church, and will be moving to London from Cliff College where he has been the Principal. Subject to the Methodist Conference another person will be taking his place at Cliff College, and there are other changes there with personnel. Cliff College. I know that over the last 15 years the college and has had to change to offer courses to people that are contemporary and up-to-date. For instance the college run courses in 'Emerging Church' and equipping the church for 21st century mission and the way the evangelists do mission has had to change. They have the same gospel message, but it has to be presented in a new ways. Students used to be there for one year, now it can be between one and three years. There used to be a teetotal rule. You had to sign an agreement that while you were a student you wouldn't drink alcohol. Now the students often go to the local pubs, may be for a pint and some will often have Coke or lemonade. The students aren't allowed alcohol in the college.
There are two ways of looking at this. One is it not good for students to be drinking, and they should be setting a good example or another way is that Christians can have a good time and enjoy themselves without getting drunk and that is a good witness to people. A new tutor at Cliff College had been witnessing to the landlord and invited him to hear him preach at the college. The tutor invited the landlord to a service because he was in a position to invite him to come. The point is whether we like it or not things do change. When a place like Cliff College began, people were told what to do and what to believe. Now people know what they believe and as long as they don't break the rules are treated as grown-ups. I am not advocating one way or another, whether Cliff College are right in there approach or not, this is the reality. Britain was a country where people were told by one Monarch or another, what they are to believe; but now we have become a nation where people choose what they want to believe. Choice is important to everyone now. This is seen when people choose which church they want to belong to. Some pass many churches to get to theirs.
Bristol
The way that circuits are managed in Bristol is changing too. Instead of five circuits there will be one. The Methodist Church nationally has struggled for some time because there are fewer people willing and able to be Superintendents. If there are fewer circuits then less superintendents are needed. Another problem the Methodist Church faces is that in 2012 many ministers are due for retirement, and if all the people who are due for retirement in that year retire the church will have big problems managing all it has at the moment. So the church at national, district level, circuit level and eventually locally will need to do some serious analysis about the way it is run to do the mission that is so badly needed around us.
Us
May 11th this year is the day we celebrate Pentecost, and the coming of the Holy Spirit in power. The disciples were weak, fearing everyone and everything. The Holy Spirit came and they "all changed". The disciples became strong, filled with courage given to them by the Holy Spirit. They could hardly speak, but now they could stay quiet about Jesus. So they told everyone about Jesus and took his message to the ends of the earth as they knew it. As they obeyed Jesus' commands to preach, heal the sick and deal with unclean spirits, so they saw many people coming to God. The change God brought to these people meant they were equipped for the new task ahead.
As we come to major changes in the way the circuit is managed, there are many unclear things, and challenges ahead. So as we celebrate Pentecost this year, may we have a sense of the power of the Holy Spirit with us, so that as we unite together we will find that the same God who has been with us, is the same God who will be with us always. I am reminded about the Charles Wesley hymn and it will be our prayer as we continue to go forward:
Captain of Israel's host, and Guide
Of all who seek the land above,
Beneath the shadow we abide,
The cloud of thy protecting love;
Our strength, thy grace; our rule, thy word;
Our end, the glory of the Lord.
By thine unerring Spirit led,
We shall not in the desert stray;
We shall not full direction need,
Nor miss our providential way;
As far from danger as from fear,
While love, almighty love is near.
May you feel God's power moving in your life this Pentecost.
From Deacon Gary Hoare
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